This is the time of year when our collective thoughts turn to helping others and spreading cheer to those around us. How many of us are spinning our wheels spreading cheer that we just don't feel in our own hearts? How many of us run around making others happy while the little voice in the back of our minds says, “When is it MY turn?”

Well, your turn begins right now! You cannot give what you do not have, so if you have a desire to spread cheer, you must first BE cheerful! Cheer begins at home! And cheer is good for you! People with a positive outlook get sick less often, get better faster, and are more productive at things like, spreading cheer to others. Cheerful people are magnetic and their cheer is contagious!

So, where do you start if you just aren't feeling it? The first step is releasing the guilty feeling about being really really good to yourself. Somewhere in the message that it is good to serve others, we get the idea that it is somehow bad to serve ourselves, but that just isn't true! If we haven't filled our own cup, we become just another charity case looking for someone else to take care of us.

Here are some tips to increase your cheer, and increase the cheer of those around you as well:

Take time each day for you and only you - Spend this time doing something that makes you feel good, and let nothing and no one intrude upon it.

Turn off the TV and pick up a good book with a positive message – Remember cheer is contagious, so surrounding yourself with positive messages will automatically increase your cheer! The effect is exponential if you also reduce the amount of negative messages you are exposed to.

Laugh – See a funny movie. Hang out with a friend who makes you laugh. Read a funny book or blog. Laughter chemically alters our brains, releasing dopamine, a feel good chemical.

Learn to say NO – Saying yes to things when you really want to say no, is a way of abandoning yourself. And saying yes to too many things leads to a stressful over-committed schedule. There is nothing cheerful about these things.

Show yourself some love – This can take so many forms! Pamper yourself; take yourself on a date; sleep late; get a massage. . . Do something for you!

When you are good to yourself, it is that much easier to be good to others, and you also teach the Universe how to you want to be treated. If you practice bringing yourself cheer on a regular basis, it will become a habit. People will want to have what you have, and you will be in a prefect position to share your cheer with them!

So, have a cheerful holiday season! Remember, cheer begins at home!

Jen Tallman is the Executive Director and Founder of The Ironjen Foundation, which helps patients of chronic autoimmune diseases get access to natural and alternative treatments. Jen cheered herself right out of an incurable autoimmune disease, and encourages and inspires others to do the same. Visit her website or on Twitter @ironjen